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Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In large measure, the longer something lasts, the more sustainable it is. Therefore, the less we have to replace infrastructure over time, the fewer greenhouse gases emitted from construction, the fewer resources consumed, etc. This is not the case with piping materials that corrode.
The North American PVC pipe industry is very serious about the environment. That’s why we spent so much time and effort developing the toughest corrosion-proof piping compounds made in the world, as well as producing the most durable pipes available.
But it doesn’t end there. Not only is corrosion-proof PVC ideal for long-term use in underground infrastructure because of its unsurpassed longevity, it also requires less energy and fewer resources to manufacture than corrosion-prone, old-technology materials, and its productions creates no debris and little pollution. It takes four times less energy to make than concrete pipe, and half that used for iron pipe.
PVC pipe’s ultra-smooth surface reduces pumping costs, and its leak-free joints eliminate water loss – which can be up to 40 per cent in some old-technology piping networks. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that 2.6 trillion gallons of potable water are lost every year through leaking, corrosion-prone pipes – or 17 per cent of all water pumped in the U.S.
There is a financial component to sustainability too. The longer something lasts and the more efficiently it functions, the smaller the human footprint and the more affordable it is over the long term. The result: public finances can be directed towards schools and other critical infrastructure like roads and bridges, which are all essential to our competitiveness and quality of life.
Using PVC pipe for water and sewer infrastructure is good for the environment and the bottom line as well. Cities that use PVC pipe recognize this and that’s why we want to recognize their efforts.
Water and sewer utility officials, please refer to the menu tab, “Major PVC Pipe Users,” for a municipality near you that uses PVC pipe. This will allow you to share your experiences with them, or learn about PVC pipe performance first-hand from one of your peers if you aren’t yet using the product.
Please consider joining the list of Major PVC Pipe Users today, by applying for the PVC Pipe Association Sustainable Infrastructure Award.
Greg Heitzman, P.E. President of Louisville Water receives Sustainable Infrastructure Award from Uni-Bell Executive Director Bruce Hollands, August 2011.
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Apply today by clicking on “Award Application” if your community, utility or district would like to be recognized for its significant contribution to environmental responsibility and cost-effective, long-term asset management for buried piping. Help build a greener tomorrow with PVC pipe.